The Trades Union Congress has taken a strong stand against the new increases in electricity and water tariffs, describing the move as harsh, untimely and unfair to Ghanaian workers who are already feeling the pinch of rising living costs.
In a statement signed by the Secretary General, Joshua Ansah, the TUC said it was shocked by the announcement from the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission. The commission revealed that electricity tariffs will go up by 9.8 percent and water tariffs by 15.9 percent from January 1, 2026. This is the same day the new 9 percent increase in the minimum wage and base pay will take effect.
According to the TUC, this timing shows a worrying lack of sensitivity from government. The union said workers had hoped that the small wage adjustment would ease their burdens a little. Instead, the new utility charges will wipe out the entire gain before workers even feel it in their pockets.
The TUC pointed out that in 2025 government increased wages by 10 percent, but electricity tariffs rose by more than 18 percent in total during that same year. With workers already complaining about the rising cost of food, rent and transport, they expected some relief in 2026, not another jump in utility prices.
The statement said the new tariff adjustment has stripped workers of the little improvement they were looking forward to. The TUC described the move as worse than robbing Peter to pay Paul. In their view, government has taken away from workers the very wage increase it promised them.
The union made it clear that workers will not accept the new tariffs unless government returns to the negotiation table to increase the 2026 wage adjustment. Without that, the TUC says it will mobilise its members to resist the implementation of what it calls an insensitive policy.
The TUC and Organised Labour will hold a press conference on Monday, December 8, 2025. At that event, the union will outline steps it plans to take to push back against the tariff increases and defend the welfare of workers.
The strong reaction signals the start of a fierce national conversation about wages, living costs and government policy in the coming weeks.
